Adora Cruises, a flagship enterprise in China's cruise sector, has announced its route deployment plan in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, for the next two years, thanks to increased domestic demand for cruise travel.

The cruise operator will open distinctive routes from Shenzhen as its homeport, covering destinations including Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, since in autumn 2025.

Also, the first large luxury cruise ship made in China will set sail from Shenzhen in 2026. The company will deploy two ships in Shenzhen in 2027, further highlighting Shenzhen's position as a comprehensive cruise hub port in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The company's second China-built large cruise ship as the "Adora Flora City" is set to offer international voyages from Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong, upon completion by the end of 2026. 

Thanks to increased trips by families and students, coupled with the continued preference of the elderly, there is a strong growth trend in cruise bookings in summer holidays, according to data from Ctrip Group, a Chinese online travel agency.

The booking volume for cruises this summer has surged by over 60 percent compared to the previous year, with overseas long-haul cruise products particularly increasing, showing a remarkable 120 percent year-on-year increase, according to the travel agency.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn